China potential threat number one: George Fernandes

March 31, 2008

The Times of India
30 Mar, 2008

NEW DELHI: Describing as an "error" the NDA government's decision to
recognise Tibet as a part of China, former Defence Minister George
Fernandes has said the Communist nation was "potential threat number
one" to India and flayed the UPA dispensation for allowing it to be
"bullied".

Venting anger over the Tibet crisis and India's response to it, the NDA
leader said the Olympic torch should not be allowed to come to India and
that he had asked his "colleagues" and others to make "whatever effort"
to prevent the flame's run in this country.

"It was not a mistake but an error. It should not have been done," he
said about India's decision to recognise Tibet as part of China during
the previous Atal Bihari Vajpayee government in which he was the Defence
Minister.

Fernandes told Karan Thapar's 'Devil's Advocate' programme on CNN-IBN
that China is "still potential threat number one" and "could become an
enemy", as he recalled his statement on similar lines 10 years back.

Commenting on the recent incident of Indian Ambassador Nirupama Rao
being summoned by the Chinese Foreign Ministry past midnight, Fernandes
said New Delhi had "surrendered" over the issue.

"Well, our government allowed it. It has no shame," he said, adding that
the government should have advised its envoy to wait till the next day.
"Elsewhere that's what would have happened."

Rao was summoned past midnight to register concern over breach of
security at Chinese Embassy here.

"India has sold out to China," he alleged. Asked whether India was being
"bullied" by China, Fernandes replied "absolutely, and it accepts it."